The Canadian League of Composers (CLC) speaks for the interests of Canadian composers. It offers professional development opportunities and resources to its members, including a schedule of suggested commissioning fees, and uses advocacy and partnerships to foster an environment in which Canadian art music is highly valued.

The Canadian League of Composers (CLC) speaks for the interests of Canadian composers. Its activities include:

• offering professional development opportunities and resources to its members, including workshops, mentorship, web resources such as model contracts, and awards such as our annual Friends of Canadian Music Award;
• hosting the Canadian Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM), issuing an annual call for scores, making a promotional CD of the selected works, and distributing it while representing Canada at the ISCM’s annual World New Music Days festival;
• maintaining a schedule of suggested commissioning fees;
• connecting its members with the music and arts communities, as well as the public, through partnerships with other organizations, and regular contact with the major arts councils in Canada;
• using advocacy to foster an environment in which Canadian art music is highly valued.
• The CLC is governed by a National Council of 12 elected members representing all regions and both official languages. We are supported by member dues, as well as by funding from The SOCAN Foundation, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and The Canada Council for the Arts. The CLC was founded in 1951, and celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2011. We currently represent nearly 400 members from across Canada.

To achieve this mission, the CLC sets the commissioning rates used by the major Canadian arts councils and provides model contracts for commissions of new music works. We are in regular contact with the major arts councils in Canada, including The Canada Council for the Arts, Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), and the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). We administer the annual Friends of Canadian Music Award with the Canadian Music Centre to support established performers, composers and academics in the Canadian community, and we offer opportunities for young composers to cultivate their craft through Mentorship opportunities. The CLC issues a monthly newsletter to all its members to keep them informed of national and international opportunities for composers. We also administer and represent the Canadian Section of the International Society of Music (ISCM), by issuing a call for scores, overseeing the jury process, and attending the annual World New Music Days as the Canadian delegates. We attempt to facilitate conversation between composers in Canada and overcome our disparate geographical locations through our website’s Members Circle, and our presence on Facebook and Twitter. The CLC also hosts and co-hosts regular events in the music community throughout Canada, such as book launches, composition contests, award receptions, and panel discussions.

To find out more about our current projects, events and opportunities, please visit the Activities and News sections of our website, or become a member by clicking Join the CLC.